Automatic cleaner and brake for player actions



June 1 1926.

J. T. RYDBERG AUTOMATIC CLEANER ANR BRAKE RoR PLAYER ACTIONS P.Sheets-Sheet l June l 1926. v 1,587,424

' J. T. RYDBERG AUTOMATIC CLEANER AND BRAKE FOR PLAYER ACTQEONS FiledMarch ll 1924 2 Sneets-Sheer. 2

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'f Y www @f A a@ @MJ i i 'l l I/ I M n l Ch'forncx Patented .lune l,1926.

unirse stares' 115,587,424 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. RYDBERG, OF HARRISON, NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNI/IENTS, TO SUPREME PLAYER ACTION CORPORATION, A CORPORATION-OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC CLEANER AND-BRAKE FOR PLAYER ACTIONS.

Application inea Mai-eh 11.1924. seriai No. 698,441.

his invention relates to an automatic tion of the player elements as inpiano players or pipe organs.

ln this class of apparatus the constant presence of dust., lint andvdirt causes the of the small passages and openings, as such foreignmatter is carried by the air into the pneumatic action and itscollection therein prevents the free passage of the air and accurateclosing of the valves, resulting in sustaining the note struck for anundesirable period.

It is also important that the cleaning of the air passages be effectedin the continued use of th0 machine rather than at remote intervals andthe most effective manner for accomplishing this during the normal useof the instrument is to remove any accumulation of foreign matterduringthe rewinding operation which occurs alternately with each playingaction. By such an application of the cleaning Adevice any accumulationis avoided and the mechanism maintained at its most accurate efficiency.

It is also found desirable to utilize the air tension during suchcleaning operation to effect a braking action during the rewinding ofthe note sheet as this retards the sheet enabling the action of theycleaner through the trackerbar to remove any dust or foreign matterupon the sheet* Whichthrough the braking action is rewound undervtension across the tracker. The effect of thisbrakring action is alsoimportant in rewinding the music sheet so as to effect a close and tightwinding thereof upon the music roll and prevent the accumulation ofslack from the take-up roll `which frequently rotates more rapidlycausing the sheet to feed irregularly to the music roll and as .the endthereof is approached is liable to detach the connecting loop fromr thetake-up roll so that the free end of the sheet whips across the trackerand is liable to be torn or injured thereby.r As is known in ordinarypractice, it is customary for the operator to use his hand upon themusic sheet to retard the feed thereof in the rewinding action andunless the sheet be tightly wound upon the music roll the latter willnot properly fit the box provided for its storage and transportation.

To obviate the objections mentioned and effect a continued and desirablecleaning action, an air tension device is automatically actuated duringthe roll reivinding operation to pass a current of air through thepassage of the pneumatic action from the trackerbar to the bleed tensionchamber While the parts are in non-playing condition and simultaneouslyto apply a brake to the take-up roll from which the note sheet is beingunwound. i

rlhe invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedconstruction in which the air tension for cleaning purposes isintroduced into the conducting passage and bleed apertures automaticallyin each re- Winding operation, and at which time the pouch boxes areclosed by a valve against the air tension acting on the passagecominunicating therewith.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bleed Atension chamberdisposed in an accessible position at the front of the action with anair pressure connection arranged to Withdraw dirt from the bleedapertures and also from the channels and openings leading to the.. musicroll regulating apertures disposed upon the traekerbar relative to thenote openin 's therein as the apertures leading to such c iannels arerelatively small and liable to become clogged by lint or dirtaccumulated in the continued passage of the music sheet over thetracker'bar.

Another and further object of the invention is to provide a constructionin which the cleaner controlling valve acts as a unit to introduce airinto the passages and to actuate a pneumatic controlling a brake memberfor the free take-up roll.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention Will behereinafter setforth and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims.

` In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation with the parts broken away and parts of thepouch boxes in section;

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the pouch boxes and bleedopenings;

vFigure 3 is a detail section on the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4C is a top plan of the cleaner valve;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 4;

Figure G is a similar view on the line 6 6 ot Figure Figure 7 is asection on the line T-i' of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section showing the bleeder openingscommunicating ivith the air tension chamber.

Like numerals ret'er to like parts throughout the several ligures ot thedrawing.

ln the present application ol the invention it is illustrated inconnection with a pneumatic piano player action in which the music roll1() is mounted in any desired character ol' support 11 and carries themusic sheet l2 which is adapted to be Wound upon the takeup roll 13similarly supported in the usual manner. This music sheet cooperateswith a trackerbar 14 provided with the note openings 15 and also withchannels 16 having apertures 1T to position and regulate the note sheetas more tully described in my prior Patent No. 1,373100 dated March 29,1921. rlhe trackerbar is provided with the usual pneumatic connectionswhich are not herein shown as they comprise no part ot this invention.These connections, howeverj coinimmicate with a passage 13 extending tothe pouch box 19 which is provided with the ordinary valve 2Ocontrolling the passage et air from the chamber 21 and also the intake22 irom the atmosphere. This pouch box communicates with a penumatic 23connected to the finger 24 in the ordinary manner and as indicated bydotted lines in Figure 3 and full lines in VFigure i2.

rlhe channel 13 comn'iunicates with a bleed tension chamber 25 throughthe bleed openings 26 as more specilically shown in Figure 8 and thischamber during the normal playing operation ot the instrument is notunder tension but permits an escape oit su ilicient air to etlect theusual restoring of the pouch boa` valve. The chamb Ar 21 is alsoprovided with an opening 2T extending from the chamber 25 and controlledby a valve member 2S such as the l'lap valve shown in Figure 3. For thepurpose ot permitting inspection of the chamber 25 and the bleedapertures communicating therewith, a tace plate 29 oft transparentmaterial is secured to the main channel board 30. The arrangement otthis= liront board 30 is particularlyT convenient in the construction ofthe penumatic action as it permits the tube connections 31 extendingtrom the channels 18 in the tube rail 32 to the trackerbar to beconcealed Without the use of Wings or other devices :tor that purpose.

For the purpose ot connecting the cleaning device with the bleed chamber25 a conduit 33 is provided and terminates in a head 34 disposedopposite an opening trom the chamber 21. The opposite end et the cenduit33 communicates With cleaner valve 35 which may be of any desiredconstruction7 Lest/,lifelia convenient form being herein shown inFigures 4 to 7 inclusive Where the base is termed ivith a port 36communicating with a source ot air tension as at 37 and also With aseries of distributing ports 33 having pas sages 39 extending to therespective points et application for the air pressure during thecleaning action. The slide member 40 ol this valve is mounted upon thebase and guided by the side rails 4l While it is held in contact withthe base by a [iat tension spring secured at one end to the base andbearing at its tree end upon the slide 40. This slide is provided with avalve passage 43 which when shifted to the position shown in Figure 5brings the inlet and distributing ports into communication tor thepurpose ot applying the air tension. rlhe slidel member ot the valve maybe connected to the lever 4 controlling the rewinding action of themusic roll by any desired means such as the rod 45 pivotally connectedat 46 upon the slide 40.

Extending from two olf the passages 39 are the conducting tubes 47 whichcommunicate with the channels 16 in the tracker-bar 14 be tore describedand are so arranged as to exert a suction or vacuum action thereon whichwill remove dirt and lint trom the nusic sheet passing over the bar. Theremaining passage communicates by a tube 43 with a pneumatic 49connected by a rod 5() to actuate a brake 51 acting upon the end flange52 of the take-up roll 13.

ln order to establish the air tension connection with the bleed chambera port 53 is provided at the base of one of the ports 38 andcommunicates with the conducting tube in order to relieve the pneumaticdevice controlling the brake action when the cleaning valve is shiftedto inoperative position the conducting passage 39 comn'iunicating withthe tube 43 is provided with a bleed opening 54 as shown in Figures 4and 5.

The operation ot' the pneumatic player action is as usual in this artand therefore not particularly described herein as this inventionrelates to the cleaning or de'lieeating mechanism associated therewith.lVhen the controlling valve tor the cleaning connections is shilfted tothe position shovvn by full lines in Figure 1 through the operation olthe resroll lever an air tension is established in the bleed chamberWhich causes a closing ot the valved passage to the pouch box andestablishes a suction or vacuum in the ducts leading ,trom thetrackerbar note Openings to the several pouch boxes. Simultaneously withsuch cleaning action a braking device is applied to regulate the speedof rotation ot the take-up roll during` such rewinding, this brake beingactuated by a pneumatic connected to the unitary valve controllingmeans. This valve is also provided with ports in communication With thesheet controlling openings which are associated with the note ducts uponthe trackerbar so as to effect a cleaning action therethroughsimultaneously with the movement of air through the remaining ducts ofthe player action.

The mechanism thus provides tor a defecation or cleaning ot the airducts between each playing operation and during the rewinding actionallotsaid parts being controlled by a unitary device and operable by thesimple shifting of the re-roll lever. The construction and location oithe bleed chamber provides for visibility of the conditions therein anddisposes it at the front of the action where it is easilyaccessiblewhenever necessary or desirable.

IVhen the controlling` valve is shifted to the dotted line position inFigure l the air tension is cut oit trom the bleeder chamber permittingthis member kto operate in the usual manner while the vacuum existing inthe pneumatic for the brake action is relieved by the bleeder openingprovided in the communicating duct therewith. By applying the tension otthe air pressure opposite to the bleed openings any lint or dustentering through the channels of the trackerbar is prevented fromsettling` against or in the bleeds and they are thus automaticallycleaned and the most eiiicient operation maintained. The valve mechanismprovided forms a unitary controlling means for the air tension appliedfor cleaning the several parts and effects a. simultaneous operation inorder to eiifect a thorough detecation during the short period oit therewinding action.

IVhile the details of the invention have been specifically 'shown anddescribed, changes and alterations may be made therein without departing`from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a piano cleaning mechanism, a trackerbar and air passage therefromto a pouch box, winding rolls for a music sheet cooperating with saidbar, a normally inactive cleaning vduct independent of said passage tothe trackerbar and communicating therewith at said box, and meansoperable in the change of winding direction of the rolls to apply airtension to the cleaning duct.

2. In a. piano cleaning mechanism, a trackerb'ar and air passagetherefrom to a pouch box, winding rolls for a music sheet cooperatingwith said bar, a normally inactive cleaning duct independent of saidpassage to the trackerbar and communicating therewith at said box, anda'manually operable valve connected to the roll winding means to applyair tension to the cleaning duct when the winding direction of the rollsis changed.

3. In a piano cleaning mechanism, av trackerbar and air passagetherei'rom to a pouch box, winding rolls for a music sheet cooperatingwith said bar, a normally inactive cleaning duct independent of saidpassage to the trackerbar, a bleed chamber communicating with said ductand pneumatic, and manually actuated means for applying an air tensionthrough said duct to create a current from the trackerbar to the bleedchamber and cleaner duct.

4. In a player action, the combination with a music roll and take-uproll, a trackerbar intermediate of said rolls, of a braking deviceapplicable to the take-up roll, means for applying an air tension toclean the passages ot' said action, a pneumatic tor actuating saidbrake, and means for controlling said pneumatic coincident to theapplication of air for cleaning purposes.

5. In a. player action, the combination with a music roll and take-uproll, a tracker bar intermediate ot said rolls, of a braking deviceapplicable to the take-up roll, means for applying an air tension toclean the passages of said action, a pneumatic for actuating said brake,means for controlling` said pneumatic coincident to the application otair for cleaning purposes, and a connec tion from said controlling meansto sheet regulating apertures disposed upon said trackerbar.

6. In a player action, the combination with a musicv roll and take-uproll, and an intermediate trackerbar, o1 a braking device applicable tothe take-up roll, a pneumatic for actuating said brake, a controllingvalve communicating with said pneumatic, and a connection from a rewindcontrol lever to said valve.

7 `In a player action, the combination with a music roll and take-uproll, and an intermediate trackerbar, of a braking device applicable tothe take-up roll, a pneumatic for actuating said brake, a controllingvalve communicating with said pneumatic, a connection from a rewindcontrol lever to said valve, a pouch box and bleed chamber connectedthereto, and a communicating passage from said valve to the bleedchamber.

8. In a player action, the combination with a. music roll and take-uproll, and an intermediate trackerbar, of a braking device applicable tothe take-up roll, a pneumatic for actuating said brake, a controllingvalve commnicating with said pneumatic, a connection from a rewindcontrol lever to said valve, a pouch box and bleed chamber connectedthereto, a communicating passage from said valve to the bleed chamber,and a communication from said valve to sheet controlling apertures inthe trackerbar.

9. In a piano cleaning mechanism, a trackerbar and air passage therefromto a pouch box, winding rolls for a music sheet coopeiatii'ig with saidbar, a normally inactive cleaning duct independent ot said assage to thetracliei'bar, a bleed chan'iber communicating with said duct andpneumatic, a. source ot air tension, and a valve device having portscommunieating with said tension and the 'trackerlnir passages andcleaning duct, said device being shitable t0 cut o'rl tension to thecleaner duct when winding and apply such tension thereto when rewinding.

l0. ln a. player' action, a pouch box, a. 'rackerban an air ductconnecting said parts, a. bleeder chamber connecting` with said duct, avalve controlling an opening from said bleeder chamber to said pouchboli adapted to be closed during the cleaning action, and means torestablishing an air suction in said chamber.

l1. In a player action, a pouch box, a trackerbar, an air ductconnecting the saine, a bleeder chamber hai/'ing` an aperturecoinniunicating with said duct, a transparent plate forming a wall ofsaid chamber disposed opposite said aperture to pei-init visibilitythereof, and means tor establishing an air tension in said. chamber.

12. In a player action, a pouch box, a trackerbar, an air ductconnecting the saine, a 'iront board provided with a bleed chain beiandconni'iunieatingpassage to said pouch box, and a channeled top boardconiinunicating' with the passage in the front board and with the ductto the trackerba 13. In a player act-ion, the combination leen/ica ngthe suction within the pneuinatic to re- "se the brake.

.1. lu a player action, the combination with a trackerbar and pouchboxes, ducts communicating between the traclteibar and pouch boxes, avalve having ports communicating with the traclei'bar, an independentport communicating with the ducts to the pouch box, a sliding member forsaid valve adapted to sin'iultaneously establish communication betweenall oil" said ports, a brake device adapted to cooperate with awindingroll, and a pneumatic therefor coninnniicatinv with a port insaid valve disposed 'tor simultaneous communication with the air tensionwhen the valve in operative position.

3. ln a player action, the combination ol' Vraclei'liar having;l noteducts and Sheet il openings, a pouch box, a channel icatinjg` 'tronisaid pouch box to said a bleed chamber con'ununicating channel, acooperatively driven erative upon said take up roll, and j dev'ce liorcontrolling the applicair tension to the tracker-bar, brake mechanismand passages to the pouch box.

in testimony whereo't I a''iif; my signature.

Jenn T. RY'DBERG.

